Colorado's Ryan O'Reilly out of sight and out of mind

When Colorado Avalanche centre Matt Duchene was asked about the missing Ryan O’Reilly Saturday he got a look on his face like he had just bitten into a three-day old sandwich that didn’t smell or taste so good.

“Do you talk to him much?” Duchene was asked.

“No, it’s not an issue,” said Duchene.

“We’ve got some guys with injuries we want to get back. They’re our priority right now.”

“The guy we’re worried about getting back is (captain Gabriel) Landeskog, a guy who’s on our team and has played with us this season, and is a big part of this hockey club. Guys like him and Erik Johnson (concussion for the defenceman) and Ryan Wilson (ankle), those are the guys we’re worried about. Landeskog is back skating (not with the team),” said Duchene

Duchene is either tired of the questions about O’Reilly, the biggest name out there who hasn’t signed after P.K. Subban came to a two-year deal in Montreal. Or, there’s something deeper. Maybe he’s wondering why O’Reilly feels he’s worth more than he is, with Duchene ($3.5 million cap hit for this season and next) racking up 14 points in the Avs’ first 13 games. He looks so fast and so good, Canada’s Olympic team evaluators should be considering Duchene for their camp this summer in Calgary.

Maybe Duchene is wondering how O’Reilly can be leaving his team hanging a quarter of the way through a 48-game season when he could have signed a short-term deal as Subban did (ironically both Subban and O’Reilly are represented by the same Newport Sports agency). Maybe he wonders how a guy who probably would have had an A on his jersey this season, can be sitting at home when he just turned 22 (Feb. 7). Not just because he’s losing money but because he’s a hockey player.

O’Reilly is a very good player of the Mike Richards ilk who could turn into a 65- point player, but his NHL high is 55 points this past season. He’s never had a 20-goal season, even in junior. The Avalanche management are holding firm, refusing to give him even as bodies are falling and with the Avs in a dog-fight for points in the Western Conference.

O’Reilly continues to hold out for a long-term deal after his first three NHL years. The Avs have offered Duchene money ($3.5 million a year) but for two seasons. O’Reilly is reportedly looking for a five-year deal for north of $4.5 million a season. The Avs, even as they lose bodies–Landeskog went down in their fourth game, Johnson, who came to them in a deal for Kevin Shattenkirk and Chris Stewart, missed his second game of the season against the Oilers Saturday with his blow to the head, Steve Downie ripped up his knee and top four D-man Wilson was hurt against the Oilers in Denver two weeks ago–refuse to buckle to O’Reilly.

“It is what it is. It’s unfortunate, but it’s behind us. Whatever happens, happens. Doesn’t matter, we’ve got the guys in here who can do the job. We’re not too worried about the (O’Reilly) distraction,” said Duchene, who has had five points the last two games against the Oilers. He’s gone to a gluten-free diet after last season and he has been flying from the start of the compacted season, saying he has more energy.

When Duchene’s contract is up July 1, 2014, he can expect to cash in and maybe become a $5 million player.

O’Reilly? He’ll likely get traded, but the Avs will not rush into anything. They have Duchene and Paul Stastny in the middle already. They would need a front-line player and a prospect most likely for O’Reilly, with an Eastern destination probably being more preferable. But, they can’t be that choosy on geographic location. They need a point-producing defenceman. Their back-end hasn’t scored a goal this season.

By all accounts, they have talked to the New York Rangers for defenceman Michael Del Zotto, but they reportedly want an added sweetener to that. Would Phoenix give up defenceman Keith Yandle straight-up for O’Reilly. Probably because the Coyotes let Kyle Turris get away to Ottawa for David Rundblad, who has yet to crack their top six on the back-end. The question is whether they could afford O’Reilly’s contract numbers because they are still a ward of the NHL state, with no owner, with the NHL paying the player salaries? How about the Leafs moving young defenceman Jake Gardiner in a deal for O’Reilly? Maybe.

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